Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver

Same dream played again. My dead body was on the floor but no door was open. Then, water was filling the room. I tried to air jump but I couldn't. My body's gone. Then the water was already at my shoulder level. I breathed and swam below. I have to find a way out. When I swam upwards, I found myself on the shore.

Gabriela? Gabriela!

Tony's back again with me. Gabriela, when I told you to be safe, I meant no harm done. Cliff jumping is a dead man's wish. You could have killed yourself.

"Tell me, is something damaged within me?" I asked as I tried to feel myself.

No, you're perfectly fine.

"You don't have to worry Toni. I'm fine now. Did I just get sunburned? How long have I been on the shore?"

Almost 12 hours. But still it was dangerous. I wasn't informed that an AI could be overbearing.

"It's life or death, Toni. And I choose to live."

I got up and tried to touch my baked skin. It felt painful on contact. My face felt hot and burnt. From my pale complexion, my skin was colored red. I looked for the duffel bag I had with me and saw it ashore not far from where I was. I walked toward it and picked it up.

Gabriela, emergency. I have to turn off everything.

"What?"

When I turned around, a company of men in military suits pointed their lasers at me.

"Put your hands up, vagabond," demanded one guard. I did it in one reflex move, then one went to my place and cuffed me. I was brought to my knees.

A scanner was brought before me. "You're not a registered citizen. Who are you?"

I guess, I don't have any options now. I have nowhere to run to.

"Sir, she's half-RBT!"

The lasers were recharged and pointed at me again." You better identify yourself before we shoot you dead."

"I'm Gabriela Sila. You made me!" I said in defense, my voice shaking.

"Gabriela who? Most of our soldiers are RBT and we make a lot of them! And you obviously are not one of them."

"Réal Juan Antonio saved me. He's the one who made me RBT."

"General Antonio saved a lot of people. Just who the hell are you?" They demanded for the last time.

"I don't know, actually. I woke up from my coma three days ago. Antonio requested a search party for me."

"GAB-RBT-143" said one of the men.

"Why are you running away?"

"I was scared and confused." The only best excuse I could come up with at the moment is entirely the truth.

"You'll be questioned more. Arrest her."

I didn't know what happened, but I had a panic attack. Fragments of bad memories came flushing in. Arrest. Interrogation. Prison. Torture. Death.

My chest felt constricted so I couldn't breathe. My sight was getting blurred, and my mind was getting hazy and everything was just spinning around. I felt someone is choking me and kicking me. I tried to get free from the cuffs that wounded my wrist.

"Control her! Give her the drug now!"

The guards tried to restrain me, but they couldn't. I felt more forceful and powerful. I could get out of their grasp easily and ran.

"Shoot her but don't kill her!" demanded by the chief, I assumed.

I was shot on my right leg. I fell down but I could still run. One man grappled me and then another pricked something in my neck. Moments after, I calmed down but I still struggled.

"Inject her more!" demanded again by their chief.

"But….." the guard was hesitating.

"She's still awake. That's why!"

Another sharp needle pricked the other side of my neck and I blacked out.

---

I heard whispers around me that brought me to my consciousness. I hadn't opened my eyes, so I had the chance to eavesdrop.

"Patient is GAB-RBT-143. Sixteen years old. One of the rescues of General Antonio in Kingdom Uno. Seven days ago, she woke up from a year of coma then ran away. Due to some stressful events after her coma, she's suffering from short-term memory loss or temporary amnesia. She will probably not remember anything before the rescue, but her violent episodes reflect her traumatic experiences. We don't have any of her psych records but, since she was imprisoned before, anything that would restrain her would make her violent," reported by a female person.

"This rescue is very special to Antonio. She's a childhood friend of his. She once saved my Antonio.'' The female voice continued.

"Doctor, please do me a personal favor. Help this child to get better and start a new life," an emotional male voice requested.

"Prime Minister, you don't have to ask me. This girl had gone through a lot, and she needed help."

A few moments later, the Prime Minister left. The middle-aged female, probably a doctor, went back inside the curtain to my side. She started to check my vitals. Then she discovered my tears wetting my cheeks and my pillow.

"Gabriela? Are you awake?"

I slowly opened my eyes.

"Gabriela, why are you crying? You're not fine yet. Crying will not help you at all."

"Can I get up?" I asked in my broken voice.

"Try if you can." She assisted me to sit up.

"Can I get you something?" she asked.

"Water, please. Thank you."

"Rosa, get some water and help me here." She called out to another person not far from us.

I found myself handcuffed to bed railings and I started to worry.

"Don't worry my dear, you are cleared. We're just waiting for the guard to come in to unlock that thing. But you have to promise me to control yourself."

"I will," I assured her. I've nowhere to go to anymore. This is the nearest thing to safety anyway.

I drank a lot of water, and they released me from my cuffs. I met Dr. Yan Flemings. She promised me to help me get through all of these problems to get back to normal. I stayed in the hospital for a week. Right then, I learned that Antonio's body hadn't been found. After a thorough search for a week, he was declared dead. As I promised him, I'd stay safe and alive. I only met him once, but he made me feel safe, loved and special. I was sent to a psych ward to treat my trauma.

A month had passed, and I got registered as a Palacio citizen. Doctor Flemings became my family. As soon as I got out of the hospital, I lived with her. She became the closest thing to a mother to me. I decided to join the military to relive the passion of Antonio: protecting and saving people. Palacio started to stand on its feet again. Air-based kingdoms see her as their biggest threat.

A year has passed, and I graduated from the military on top of my class. Dr. Flemings and I had a celebratory dinner over at her house. Attended by my friends and Yan's co-workers, it was a great evening. But I was once again, plagued with known sadness. Antonio.

I went out of the veranda to get some cool air. Chest pains started to boil.

"Gabby, you should be inside. Your guests are looking for you." Yan joined me.

"They'll be fine. Thanks for all of these, Yan. I loved it."

"You know I'm proud of you but it still makes me sad."

"Yan..come on. It's over. I have my first mission in two days."

"That's why. You still have the time to back out."

"And put a year of rigorous training to waste? No way."

"You know, I remembered when you told me that you promised General Antonio to be safe and alive. And you're not keeping it."

"Not now, Yan. But when I promised that, I never thought I would lose him. What for? I'm safe and alive but for no one. I've got to give myself a purpose."

"For once, I thought you'd be a doctor."

We laughed together and it lifted my spirits.

"You have me, Gabby. I want you safe and alive. Can't you do that for me?"

"I promise you that I will always come home for you, Josh and Martin. Your husband and son will kill me if I break your heart. I would rather die here than everywhere."

"Now, youre talking about death. That is not good."

"Wow. Says the wife who has a pilot as a husband and a son who is a General."

"God, why did you give me this kind of family?"

Our laughter warmed my heart.

"Yan, if there's any reason for me to be alive, it's you and this family."

Now, that all my memories are back, it's time to save the closest to my heart, my real family - Rey.

---

All the military equipment and structure Palacios has are modernized and well-kept. My company was being briefed by our commander when he was called for an emergency meeting. There were ten of us in our Delta company plus twenty RBT soldiers under us. Lennon and Frial are my closest comrades.

Lennon was already in a relaxed position, "That must be some emergency."

Frial, whose long hair was fixed perfectly, responded, "I'm still getting jitters. Hello, first mission." Lennon ran towards her and jokingly hugged her. "Shut it, Lennon. It's not funny."

We were commanded through the interface to have a break. We went to the cafeteria. I was sitting on one of the benches, ready to grab a bite off my sandwich when a familiar deafening sound whacked my ears.

"Gabby, are you okay? What's wrong?" Frial checked on me.

I have to get out of here first. They shouldn't know.

"I just need to go to the restroom." I excused myself.

"You want me to come with you?"

"I'm fine, Frial. Just a stomach ache."

"Oh. Yeah. I get it. Jitters."

"Hmmmmm" I mumbled.

I bolted towards the restroom. And locked the door. A few moments later, there was a long pause.

Gabriela. A familiar motherly voice came out of my head.

"Toni!" I almost shouted in excitement.

Gabriela, I thought you had forgotten me.

"No, it's you who forgot me. It's been a year, Toni. Where the hell have you been?"

Well, you know one protocol I have is I should not be traced. I have to completely take myself and the visuals out of your system to let them know you're not a threat.

"I was never a threat. I will never be."

No RBT has their own AI, Gabriela. Only you. AI is supposedly to be completely controlled by the Government.

"But you still left me."

I'm sorry but I had to. So it's been a year already. It's time to authorize my renewal or complete expiration. Renewing me will put you in danger. Take me out and you'll back to your new normal life.

"Toni...you're the only thing that connects me to Antonio. I don't want to lose you. I can still make appear and disappear right?"

Of course. But if they found out have me...you'll get arrested for it.

"Then, let's try not to make it happen. Anyway, I heard AIs will be used by military soldiers soon, so we'll be safe."

Does that mean I'm renewed?

"Sure is. Welcome back, Toni. I missed you."

Same here Gabriela.

I went back to the cafeteria and no one was there anymore. I went back inside the headquarters and were all lined up for some announcement. I weaved my way to my company.

"I'm glad you made it, Gab. It was a full alert announcement, so I haven't had the chance to inform you," whispered Frial.

"It's fine".

General Flemings, my foster brother, stood in the middle of the high platform. In his background was a large IF.

"We have some urgent news. Last year, we lost one of the greatest generals that Palacio ever had, General Rèal Juan Antonio known as General Antonio. He was responsible for saving our city. He is our hero. Our savior. But what we know is that he died in the crash. We looked for his body for the entire year, but it was futile. Not until a moment ago, intel was verified that he was held hostage by Paradiso."

There was light mumbling around.

"Yes, Paradiso emerged once again. It was said that an airship of Kingdom Tres has managed to find General Antonio's body in their fallen territory after his parachute landed there. He was safe but was taken hostage. He was sold to Paradiso as a valuable entity. Now, Kingdom Tres is trying to build another kingdom from the payment Paradiso has given them. Now, we shall save General Antonio before a price is put on his head. We all know how traitorous Paradiso is. We shall get a head start. We shall take Gen. Antonio back. All first class battalions will join the mission. The second class will take over the first class's assignments. Third class to fifteenth remain on your post until further announcement. Everybody, return to your barracks and prepare. All dismissed."

Everything blurred around me as I heard the news. Antonio is alive. I've got to save him.

When we returned to the barracks, we were briefed about our new assignment. Air patrollers, night shift. I belonged to the fifteenth class. There's no way I can join the mission. Unless, I'll talk to Martin.

Today was supposed to be his anniversary of death, but everyone celebrated upon hearing the news that he was alive. We were sent home to prepare for our shift. People took out their 'Antonio, our hero' posters and displayed them outside their houses, buildings and parks. Yan came home and did it too. When she saw me in the front yard, she ran towards me and embraced me.

"He's alive, Gab. He is alive! Now there's a reason for you to stay safe and alive."

"Yan….now there's a reason for me that I made the right decision."

"Don't you think hell be happier to see you here in one piece than risking your life out there?"

"I'm sorry that I made you worry so much, Yan. Now is my chance to save him."

"If Antonio didn't save anyone, I would lock you and Martin up in our home."

"He's here?"

"Yes, packing everything needed for his mission."

I ran up the stairs and barged inside his room. Martin was five years older than I am, and he's been the best brother I never had. He was indeed busy packing.

"Do you have plans of not coming home, Martin?"

"Hey, what's up..Gab? You know...it's going to be a long mission. And I am glad you could stay and watch Mom for me."

I sat on Martin's king-sized bed and interrupted him with his packing.

"What is it, Gab?"

"Martin, you're the best brother I ever had."

"Oh no. I don't like the sound of this. No, you're not going on that mission. No way. It's too dangerous."

"But! Martin, you know how much Antonio means to me. I'll put my life on the line just to save him."

"Gab, you're not the only one who wants Antonio alive back here. Let me do the job for you. Antonio was my little brother too. I trained him. And guess what, the Prime Minister specifically requested you to be out of the mission. He wants you safe here. I've done enough when I had you drafted in the military. I have to fight for you against the PM's wishes. I wouldn't dare defy him again. Do me a favor, Gab. Just follow the orders."

It's obvious that I couldn't fight my brother. Martin has this invisible power over me. I admired him for his wisdom and strength. I was newly trained and I can't do much over there. I'll just prepare myself for what is to come.

Yan was crying when we bid Martin goodbye. She does that all the time.